NEW YORK - The Columbia field hockey team opens up its home and Ivy League slate against Brown on Friday, September 20 at 5 p.m. at the Columbia Field Hockey Venue. The Lions (2-2) are also in action on Sunday, September 22 when they host Richmond at noon.

THIS WEEK FOR THE LIONS

BROWN (2-2, 0-0)FRIDAY, SEP. 20 • 5 P.M.

ALL-TIME VS. BROWN: 7-9CURRENT STREAK: Columbia W6

SCOUTING THE BEARSBrown has split its first four games of the season and most recently dismantled Maine, 6-0, on Sep. 15.

Meghan O’Donnell checks in with four goals and nine points on the year and Liza Green has a pair of assists.

In net, Shannon McSweeney has played every minute thus far and has a 3.25 GAA has made 47 stops to lead the Ivy League.

RICHMOND (2-4)SUNDAY, SEP. 22 • 12 P.M.

ALL-TIME VS. RICHMOND: 1-2CURRENT STREAK: Richmond W2

SCOUTING THE SPIDERSRichmond has won two-straight, topping Davidson and James Madison on Sep. 14-15, after losing its first four decisions. All of the Spiders’ defeats have been by one goal, including an overtime loss at No. 5 Virginia on Sep. 11.

Emma Johansson leads the team with three goals, while allison Haas has dished out a team-best two assists.

Anna Zaroski is the team’s primary goalkeeper, coming into the weekend with a 1.32 GAA and a .800 save percentage.

COLUMBIA NOTES

BACK IN BLAKEMidfielder Zoe Blake has found her scoring touch in her junior season, scoring a pair of goals and adding an assist for five points on the year. Coming into 2013, Blake had just one career assist.

COLUMBIA IN IVY LEAGUE OPENERSThe Lions are 6-10 all-time in Ivy League debuts, but have won their last five conference openers, all coming against Brown.

GETTING DEFENSIVEJunior Lauren Skudalski continues to show she’s one of the top defenders in the Ivy League. The co-captain made three defensive saves in two games last weekend, including two to keep Columbia in the game against No. 20 American.

OPENING STATEMENTFirst-year Katie Ruesterholz made quite the first impression in the first weekend of her collegiate career to earn Ivy League Player of the Week honors on Sep. 10. Ruesterholz potted two goals to guide the Lions to a 5-0 win over Longwood on Sep. 6. Against James Madison on Sep. 8, the Basking Ridge, N.J. native opened the scoring with a goal in the 13th minute.

KEEPING UP WITH KIMSophomore goalkeeper Kimberly Pianucci stopped 19-of-20 shots in the opening two games of the season to help Columbia post a 2-0 start for the first time since 2010. She has started all four games this season and made 40 saves with a .755 save percentage.